Comments:

Exactly how I felt when HBO greenlit my beloved Game of Thrones. When a story is beloved, it becomes an intimate part of you, thus, no matter how well it's brought to life, it will fall short in some regard. Thankfully for me, HBO has an unbelievable track record for original series (Rome, The Sopranos, The Wire etc.), and all reports are that they're throwing tons of money at GoT in hopes of making it another cornerstone series. I've been following things as closely as anyone, and so far everything has been so ideal it's scary. World class talent in every area of production, and the producers actually seem to be listening to the fans to a certain degree, casting fan favorites in roles and tabling panels of fans to gage their expectations and feelings on different aspects of the show. Fingers crossed that the same care is given to the DT production(s). Most excited for you!

Originally the series was going to be done by the Lost guys, but now it's been turned over to these other people. *crosses fingers* Unfortunately, it's too late to beg them to cast my Eddie, because Nick Lea's too old for the role. *sigh*

Whoa, too bad J.J. Abrams isn't still associated with it! He usually does quality stuff. Besides awesome Lost, there was the Star Trek reboot, which rocked so hard. Of course, there was also Cloverfield, which...not so much. But still, his sort of vibe would seem to fit well with DT, to say nothing of the fact that with him on board, you might've stood a good chance of nabbing Josh Holloway (Sawyer from Lost) for Eddie. I've heard he's sort of a fan favorite for the role, but I've also heard he's too old for it too. Wouldn't know since I don't really know Eddie beyond what you've told me. Me, I'm way biased toward him since he was easily the best thing about Lost, and his image has been that of my Caden from pretty much day one. Have a lookeeloo:

Go to the first couple of pages here (use the look-inside-the-book feature).

Skip past the intro and preface or whatever (they're actually good, though), and read the first two pages or so of Chapter One (if you click on the cover and then "first pages" it'll take you right there).

There's a pretty good description of Roland there that tells you a lot about Roland's appearance and mannerisms without actually describing his facial features, something I've always liked because then I can use my imagination. Then tell me what you think--and also tell me if the opening sentence isn't made of nineteen kinds of awesome.

I read The Gunslinger earlier this year, and from what I know of Roland (which is limited to that book only), I think Viggo is a good fit. As for the opening line, it was the best thing about the book. I know you love the series, and I'm happy that it speaks so meaningfully to you (and a ton of other people). It just doesn't resonate for me.

All publishing professionals who have anything to do with the writing craft will tell you that a reader needs to be "hooked" as quickly as possible. Some would even say this has to be by the end of the first paragraph. I gave King an entire book to hook me. He didn't do it. If I don't care about the characters, I don't continue with them. :(

The thing with the DT is, SK wrote most of The Gunslinger when he was nineteen years old. The rest came years later, and the feel of those books are different. Plus, there are a ton more characters and entirely different settings and POVs.

I mean, personally, I love The Gunslinger. but the tone is entirely different from the rest of the story, and although I connected, I didn't...bond, I guess, until I met Eddie (and seriously, it was love at first sight). It still took me years to let myself love Roland--he's a hard guy to love, and he's supposed to be.

DO EET.

Here are the first two paragraphs:

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

The desert was the apotheosis of all deserts, huge, standing to the sky for what looked like eternity in all directions. It was white and blinding and waterless and without feature save for the faint, cloudy haze of the mountains which sketched themselves on the horizon and the devil-grass which brought sweet dreams, nightmares, death. An occasional tombstone sign pointed the way, for once the drifted track that cut its way through the thick crust of alkalai had been a highway. Coaches and buckas had followed it. The world had moved on since then. The world had emptied.

*BIBBLE* Okay, actually I can't say that I care all that wildly and enormously about the Dark Tower series becoming filmed, because IMO Uncle Stevie inevitably translates horribly awfully to film. But the bibbling was my immediate response to Hidalgo!Veegs, followed almost instantaneously by "HOLY CRAP SHE'S SO RIGHT HE'S PERFECT DO IT DO IT DO IT NOW." Yeah, if they cast Viggo as Roland, I'd preorder the DVDs before I even saw the first episode.